KibellahThe frightened herd sways, humming with whispers. In their eyes, the fires of anxiety flicker. Careless, suggestible people.
YOU[What are those two talking about? Hammer and Anvil]
Hammer"And then the lever smacked you right in the kisser? Hah! Give or take a tooth, this is nothing. Bruises, burns, cuts — that's just life."
Hammer"Just remind yourselves how you come home after your shift, having exchanged your ration card for a bowl of soup. How your little ones gulp that bowl down. How they fall asleep, feeling a little better. I say that's worth a hard day's work... and a punch in the face!" He smiles, broad-shouldered, with a rusty beard. He is not afraid to share laughter with others, and so the crimson shades from the beatings never leave his face. His voice is bright, and sonorous, and listened to.
Anvil"Not everyone here is as chipper and thick-skinned as you. A bowl of soup is great, he says. What about having to choose which of your three kids gets it — is that great too? Beatings are nothing, he says. Remember when the enforcers broke your arm?"
Anvil"Since you couldn't work, your wife had to pull three shifts. She collapsed at the lathe, and the conductive charge burned out her eyes. None of us deserve that." Tough and unyielding. Every word hurts, but she is forgiven for her sincerity. They listen to her to pull themselves together. To share their common pain.
YOU[What are those two talking about? Hammer and Anvil]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[See if anyone has fallen into my web]
Chambers(sequence)
Hammer"You heard the news? The lieutenant got fried on the wires. A brutal end for a brutal woman."
Anvil"That's called justice — for every broken bone, for every gob of spit in our faces. Good bloody riddance!"
Hammer"Yes... Just as long as they don't pin her death on any of us."
end of branch
Hammer"Did you hear what happened? Nemesite didn't stop at that foundry business, he's been roaming the upper decks too! They say he went to the vessel's shrine and shot some nobles."
Anvil"And then he fled down into the chambers, so now a punitive squad is on its way. Prepare your backs: this is going to hurt."
end of branch
YOU[I will come back later. My hunt has just began]
end of branch
YOU[I will come back later. Not all of the snares have been set]
end of branch
YOU[See if anyone has fallen into my web]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[I will come back later. My hunt has just began]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[I will come back later. Not all of the snares have been set]continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 4 of 7
Einrich Monteg(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 5 of 7
KibellahThe weariness and fear in the eyes of the laypeople have been replaced with sullen lights. Their faces no longer brighten with pale smiles. Their muscles are as tense as a beast ready to pounce. Their hearts pump blood faster and faster through bulging veins as the fiery words spoken by Hammer and Anvil sizzle in the air.
YOU[Listen to the rapid beating of hearts]
KibellahThe laypeople are frightened. Angry. They feel the impunity that sprouted like a weed upon Whip's demise. They feel the threat crushing them from the upper decks, both imminent and inevitable.
YOU[Listen to the rapid beating of hearts]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[What are those two talking about? Hammer and Anvil]
KibellahI can hear their whispers, insidious and deafening. No longer do they laugh with the others. No longer do they pretend.
Hammer"The enforcer is dead, and punishers from the upper decks will soon follow Nemesite's trail."
Anvil"This is our chance. We need to act." This is it. I can sense that the prey is close. They have little fear of giving themselves away anymore. They need a spark to ignite the flames. Something that will convince Nemesite's followers that they are strong, and that the Domin's servants are diminished.
YOU[Listen to the rapid beating of hearts]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[What are those two talking about? Hammer and Anvil]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Wait for the right moment and then light the spark]
Hammer"They tell us this is how it's meant to be! Just because they were born on the upper decks and we down below, in the darkness! Is it really the God-Emperor's will that they grow fat on the fruits of our labours? Revel in luxury while we die without water or medicine?" Hammer's voice rumbles, and the laypeople listen. Their hands clench into fists.
Hammer"No matter how hard you work, they will wring everything out of you and give you nothing! Who allowed this to happen? The Rogue Trader, name be damned! A grox on the throne! A tyrant throwing our bones into the furnace of 'protectorate'—"
Flaming Voice"Shut your foul mouth, void dog." Flaming Voice? No, it is too soon! I understand your anger, but you must temper it! "What did you say about the Lord Captain? The one who gives you work, food, and shelter? You insolent deadbeats! I can see why you have gathered here, and I will not let you start another rebellion." Why are you reaching for your vox-caster? "If you do not disperse, I will give the order to vent the plasma chambers. You have five seconds. Four..."
Anvil"The tyrant's lackey! If you do this, you'll die with us, you madman!"
Flaming Voice"To protect the Lord Captain and the crew? I see you've never met an infernus before." Their faces are twisted with fear. Will they retreat? Will they flee? Will the hunt be thwarted? No!
AnvilA small throwing blade flies out of my palm and draws a scarlet line across Anvil's neck. If I had wished it, she would be dead. But she continues to breathe and to bleed. And to scream furiously as she looks for me. "The Rogue Trader's assassins are here! Look! They wanted to kill me! Find the assassins!" The spark is lit.
end of branch
YOU[The web is spun, but I am not ready to chase my prey into the snare just yet. Later]
end of branch
Hammer"The enforcer is dead, and punishers from the upper decks will soon follow Nemesite's trail."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Wait for the right moment and then light the spark]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[The web is spun, but I am not ready to chase my prey into the snare just yet. Later]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[What are those two talking about? Hammer and Anvil]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Wait for the right moment and then light the spark]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[The web is spun, but I am not ready to chase my prey into the snare just yet. Later]continues where this line first appears above
Steel Mistress"Your plan appears to have worked, Spinner. The air itself is charged with something, and it is not the conductive charge. The serfs... they are stirring."
YOU[Listen to the rapid beating of hearts]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[What are those two talking about? Hammer and Anvil]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Wait for the right moment and then light the spark]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[The web is spun, but I am not ready to chase my prey into the snare just yet. Later]continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 6 of 7
KibellahThe laypeople are huddled together in a pile of sweltering bodies, filthy and battered by the enforcers' batons, reeking of sweat and disease. Their hearts pump blood faster and faster through bulging veins as two of them send red-hot sparks into the air with their words like a hammer and anvil.
Steel Mistress"Your plan appears to have worked, Spinner. The air itself is charged with something, and it is not the conductive charge. The serfs... they are stirring."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 7 of 7
KibellahThe laypeople have huddled together like a herd being chased by predators. Faded gazes, bent backs, the crimson kisses of batons on their bodies. And yet, shadows of smiles touch their dirty, burnt lips as a strange pair, like a hammer and anvil, send sparks into the air with their words.
YOU[What are those two talking about? Hammer and Anvil]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[See if anyone has fallen into my web]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[I will come back later. My hunt has just began]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[I will come back later. Not all of the snares have been set]continues where this line first appears above